Dartford Bridge Community Primary School

Architects HazleMcCormackYoung specified a Sto external wall insulation system to encase The Bridge, a purpose built primary school and community hub, completed in March 2010.

The Bridge is a new lifelong learning and community campus in Dartford. The architect's apparently simple design posed lots of challenges to overcome:

Very low U Value requirements

Complex geometric shapes

Vibrant colour scheme

Tight budget

These challenges were answered by StoTherm Classic, the market leading external wall insulation system, specified on almost 100 million m² globally.

"We've used Sto systems on various projects, so we know the products are very high quality" says James Robson, Partner. "Thorough cost checks were carried out and StoTherm Classic also proved to be a cost-effective solution."

The various curves incorporated into this impressive building, and particularly the central cone feature, demanded great flexibility from the facade material. The range of 800 colours available from the StoColor System allowed the vibrant colour scheme to be an exact translation of the architect's design.

The Bridge accommodates:

A primary school for up to 420 children

An early years centre

A youth centre specialising in music and arts

Adult education facilities

Library

Children's and adult social service

Health consulting room

Visitor centre

Café

Sensory garden

Kent County Council positioned this facility within a housing development. Their express aim was to integrate the formal and informal functions of the building within the community. Part of the brief was to blur the boundaries between people's living, educational and support services. This desire is clearly reflected in the organic and informal aesthetic of the finished design.